With a prize pool of Rs. 8.5 lakh, the 29th Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) championship is scheduled to be held on March 26 at IG Stadium, Kohima. Informing this during a press conference, here Sunday, NWA president, Dr. Hiabe Zeliang said this championship, which is held biennially, will bring together a total of 54 wrestlers, 18 each from Angami, Chakhesang and Zeliang wrestling associations.
The champion will walk away with a cash prize of Rs 3.2 lakh along with Velahü Puro memorial prize which carries a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 and a running trophy along with citation.
The other top three position holders will receive Rs. 2.2 lakh, Rs. 1.5 lakh and Rs. 1.2 lakh respectively along with citations.
The four losing quarterfinalists will each receive Rs. 25,000 while the group champion will receive Rs. 30,000, Dr. Zeliang informed.
Taking note of the seat arrangement for the spectators, he said since some viewers may have to be placed a little farther away from the main stage, the organisers would provide sufficient LED screens to make the spectators view the event without any problem.
He disclosed that with the need to promote Naga wrestling and to let it be recognised at the international level, presidents of United World Wrestling and World Belt Wrestling Federation would be coming to grace the event as honoured guests.
The special guest for the event will be chief minister, Neiphiu Rio while guest of honour will be deputy CM, TR Zeliang with Tenyimia legislators as the patrons.
Dr. Zeliang urged the spectators to exhibit the best manners and good conduct during the event as international officials will be there viewing the game as well.
He said with the government of Nagaland giving it’s best to promote the state game, even spectators and wrestling fans should also display their best behaviours during the event.
He informed that ground management will be done by Botsa Baptist Church, which has also managed the ground during the NWA Open meet in 2019.
Car parking for the spectators will be done at the hockey stadium at a minimum fee and Dr. Zeliang assured that the vehicles will be arranged in such a way that vehicles owners can remove their vehicle with ease at any time of the day.
Pay and use toilets will also be made available at the venue and the organisers were trying their best to provide all the required amenities for the convenience of the spectators.
On streaming the event online, he said NWA has given the freedom to the ground management team to make available Pay Per View provisions for online viewers.
Answering a query on whether Wokha District Wrestling Association will be joining the event, Dr. Zeliang said NWA had issued provisional affiliation to the association some years back.
And since WDWA was still in a nurturing stage, the association was currently under observation period before they could join the main event.
He added that WDWA was striving hard and since the Naga wrestling style was also new for them, they were struggling to grasp it all at once. He hoped that the association would continue to improve itself in the coming days.
He informed that Pughoboto range had also requested for affiliation, however, since the constitution of the NWA states that it should be either from a district or community level, NWA could not accommodate them. He however encouraged them to mobilise it at the district level.
NWA general secretary, Vilekho Bio, extended a warm welcome to all the wrestling lovers from all over the state to the mega event.
Ticket prices for patron, donors’ chairs and gallery will remain the same with donors at Rs. 3,000, chairs at Rs. 1,000 and Rs 500 while gallery will be set at Rs 100, he informed.
He disclosed
that since the tenure of the present NWA will be over with the upcoming edition, a new team will be announced during the event.
Ground management team head, Kecha Kense, said it would be the second time for the church to be managing the mega event.
He informed that all the proceeds from the management will be utilised in church building.
While thanking NWA for reposing its faith by granting them ground management, Kense said the team will give its best for the success of the event.
He assured spectators that the team will provide clean and hygienic food at the prevailing market rates and also tie up with city bus and taxi owners to provide conveyance to the spectators.